By Danielle Green, Ch 5b, pg 36-45 (Things Fall Apart)
(Argungu Fishing Festival in Nigeria) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Yam Festival in Nigeria)
vThe Yam Festival also called the “Homowo” or “The Hoot at Hunger”, is celebrated in all of Nigeria vThe Yam is one of the most abundant foods in the area. vThey honor the earth god, Ala, and the yam god, Ihejioku. vThe Yam festival is held at the end of the rainy season in August vThey offer the yams to the gods, to give thanks to them vThe Argungu Fishing Festival is when a competition is held amongst over 1,000 fishermen vThe men fish on the Sokoto River, which is not open for fishing so that there are many fish for the festival. vNow, many more activities are held other than just fishing. vSome of the other activities are swimming, diving, wrestling, and arts and crafts. vThe “Mmanwu” Festival, mmanwu meaning masquerade vEach costume is supposed to represent a spirit vThe Oshun Festival, which celebrates the Yoruba water spirit of marriage, love and gold. vOfferings to the spirit are given during the festival. vThe Igue Festival, which is the oldest cultural festival and the most anticipated. v“It is celebrated to mark the end of the Benin yearend to offer prayers for peace and prosperity in the new year”
Igbo Festivals
By Danielle Green, Ch 5b, pg 36-45 (Things Fall Apart)
(Argungu Fishing Festival in Nigeria) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Yam Festival in Nigeria)
v The Yam Festival also called the “Homowo” or “The Hoot at Hunger”, is celebrated in all of Nigeria
v The Yam is one of the most abundant foods in the area.
v They honor the earth god, Ala, and the yam god, Ihejioku.
v The Yam festival is held at the end of the rainy season in August
v They offer the yams to the gods, to give thanks to them
v The Argungu Fishing Festival is when a competition is held amongst over 1,000 fishermen
v The men fish on the Sokoto River, which is not open for fishing so that there are many fish for the festival.
v Now, many more activities are held other than just fishing.
v Some of the other activities are swimming, diving, wrestling, and arts and crafts.
v The “Mmanwu” Festival, mmanwu meaning masquerade
v Each costume is supposed to represent a spirit
v The Oshun Festival, which celebrates the Yoruba water spirit of marriage, love and gold.
v Offerings to the spirit are given during the festival.
v The Igue Festival, which is the oldest cultural festival and the most anticipated.
v “It is celebrated to mark the end of the Benin yearend to offer prayers for peace and prosperity in the new year”
Learn More!
"Nigeria: Festivals and Cultural Tours from Africa Travel Magazine." Africa Travel Association (ATA) – The Leader of African Travel & Tourism. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. <http://www.africa-ata.org/nigeria_3.htm>.
"Yam Festival." A Multicultural Thanksgiving at FamilyCulture.com. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. <http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/yamfestival.htm>.
"Yam Festival in Ghana and Nigeria." Vivienne Mackie's Homepage. Web. 02 Nov. 2009. <http://www.vivienne-mackie.com/articles/holidays/family/yam.html>.
"YouTube - ICAM Celebrating Iwa-ji (New Yam) festival 2005 - Women Dance." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 06 Nov. 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oto7XjUGng8.
http://www.fishingfury.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/argungu-fishing-festival-nigeria-04.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.janeresture.com/trobriands_revisited/dancers.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.janeresture.com/trobriands_revisited/index.htm&usg=__rG_wY0isFfCxzc0Cw7Fo0AwSDSQ=&h=294&w=435&sz=48&hl=en&start=1&sig2=vv8Ok0_nvuEXGZFHN-gREg&tbnid=g316VxF0y7Mi7M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyam%2Bfestival%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den&ei=NCv0Sr-wGczllAernu2uAw
Checked by JGD, YK, JG